Summary of "The SECRET HACK supermarkets hope you never try"
Easy supermarket-to-garden hacks
Simon A. Croy demonstrates four simple ways to regrow or grow supermarket ingredients at home so you can harvest fresh herbs, greens and spicy leaves quickly.
Spring onions
- Cut off and use the edible top, leaving the root stub — don’t throw the roots away.
- Plant the rooted base in compost in a container with drainage holes; press in gently so only the stub tip is above the compost.
- Water every 2–3 days. New growth appears in about 7–10 days.
- You can repeatedly harvest by cutting back; they will regrow for many cycles.
Mint
- Take sprigs/cuttings from a supermarket mint packet.
- Remove lower leaves and cut just below a node (where roots form).
- Root in a glass of water on a sunny windowsill (roots in ~7–10 days) or plant directly into compost.
- Grow mint in containers only — it spreads aggressively if planted directly in the ground.
- Plant different mint varieties in separate pots to create a flavorful patio herb collection for salads and cocktails.
Chia seeds (microgreens)
- Line a plate with damp kitchen paper/kitchen roll.
- Evenly sprinkle chia seeds over the damp paper.
- Keep the paper moist on a windowsill; water every couple of days.
- Cut microgreens with scissors after a few days up to two weeks and add to salads, sandwiches, or smoothies.
Mustard
- Fill a pot with compost and sprinkle supermarket mustard seeds on top (yellow or black).
- Cover lightly with compost and water.
- Leaves grow quickly — use the spicy mustard leaves in salads.
- Allow plants to flower and go to seed if you want to collect seeds for homemade mustard.
General tips
- Use any recycled container with drainage holes (for example, supermarket plastic trays).
- A sunny windowsill or sunny patio is ideal.
- Trim long roots if needed; reduce leaves on cuttings to limit water loss while rooting.
- Plant multiple cuttings/seeds to increase your success rate.
- Most of these will be harvestable in about 1–2 weeks if kept watered and sunny.
Notable speaker and sources
- Speaker: Simon A. Croy
- Items referenced: supermarket spring onions, mint packets, chia seeds (for microgreens), mustard seeds, compost, kitchen roll, recycled containers
- Associated video: BBC Gardener’s World magazine
Category
Lifestyle
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